Jerick McKinnon

Even on a team with Adrian Peterson, you wonder why McKinnon doesn't get additional reps. He averaged over six yards per touch last year and secured 72 percent of his targets, looking notably improved...

A third-round draft pick last year after a jaw-dropping Combine performance, McKinnon was expected to serve as little more than Adrian Peterson's rookie understudy. He suddenly found himself in the spotlight, though, when Peterson was suspended and Matt Asiata proved to be little more than a short-yardage specialist. Somewhat undersized at 5-9, 208, McKinnon was an option quarterback most of his college career at Georgia Southern, and he still needs polish as an running back. He can flash outstanding speed and elusiveness in space, along with the burst to explode into the hole, but he lacks the vision to consistently find those holes and has trouble at times turning his gym strength into running power and broken tackles. He improved in those areas as the year progressed before a Week 12 back injury ended his season. With Peterson back this season, McKinnon will return to a depth role, but more time spent learning at the feet of one of the greatest backs in NFL history can only help his development.

2014

McKinnon's impressive measurables at the NFL Combine – including 32 bench-press reps, which led all running backs, and a 4.37 40 time – boosted his draft stock enough to entice the Vikings into utilizing a third-round pick to secure his services. After running for 2,867 yards and 32 touchdowns while splitting time between quarterback and running back (but mostly running back) his last two years at Georgia Southern, he should have a chance to beat out the singularly unexciting Matt Asiata for the right to back up Adrian Peterson. At 5-9, 208, McKinnon will likely have to bulk up some before he can handle every-down NFL duties and is very raw as a receiver, but he's a tremendous athlete who can make things happen with the ball in his hands.